Simon Halsey is back at Whitstable Town as part of a new-look management team.

The former Belmont No.2 who helped Marc Seager win promotion to the Ryman League eight years ago, has returned as assistant manager under Will Graham, as the latter gets to grips with his first job in management. Steve Woollcott also returns as first team coach.

Halsey sat in on the club’s fans’ forum with Graham and chairman Gary Johnson on Tuesday night and is looking forward to the new challenge.

He said: “There were a lot of familiar faces there who made me welcome. Will and Gary spoke well.

“The chairman was disappointed with the comments that the club lacked ambition but he is working on limited resources and you can only walk as quickly as the steps will take you.”

Halsey added: “Will and I first spoke a few weeks ago, he went away and talked to the club and things moved on from there. I will help him in every aspect of the job, it’s all about staying level-headed when things are going well and when they are not.”

Halsey draws comparisons with working alongside Seager when he made his managerial bow as player-manager and is pleased to be back in the game, so soon after being shown the door by Ramsgate, despite keeping them in Ryman League, Division 1 South last season.

He said: “I want to be at a club and stay there. I had four months at Ramsgate and hoped to be there next season.

The squad return to pre-season training on Saturday June 27.